1910-05-09 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 33 9TH MAY, 1910.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, HON. SIR F. H. MAY, K.C.M.G.

HIS EXCELLENCY COLONEL C. W. R. ST. JOHN (Officer Commanding the Troops).

HON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Secretary). HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER (Colonial Treasurer). HON. MR. W. SLADE, K.C. (Attorney-General).

HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General).

HON. MR. F. J. BADELEY (Captain Superintendent of Police).

HON. DR. HO KAI, M.B., C.M.G.

HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.

HON. MR. E. A. HEWETT.

HON. MR. M. STEWART.

HON. MR. E. OSBORNE.

HON. MR. H. KESWICK.

MR. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).

Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

DR. J. M. ATKINSON (P.C.M.O.), member of Executive Council, attended the meeting by the invitation of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

HIS EXCELLENCY said―Gentlemen, as recently as last Thursday we in this far distant corner of the Empire lived in happy ignorance of any danger threatening our country. On Friday we heard the first

note of alarm that all was not well with our beloved and revered Sovereign. On Saturday His Majesty's subjects and, I may add with truth, all the inhabitants of this Colony of whatever race, were plunged in deepest grief by his untimely death. We are met in sorrow to try to express in words our grief at the loss which the Nation has sustained in the demise of our King and Emperor, and our heartfelt sympathy with Queen Alexandra, King George the Fifth, his Royal Consort, and the Royal Family in their bereavement. In our late Sovereign his people have lost a father who has ever devoted himself to the promotion of their welfare: the Empire a wise and patriotic ruler in whom the whole world mourns an earnest and successful worker for the peace and happiness of mankind. (Applause.) In death our late Sovereign King Edward VII. will live in the loving hearts of his subjects. In our lives let us imitate his example of devotion to the Empire and to the welfare of our fellow men. (Applause.) I have the honour to submit the following resolution to this honourable Council:―"That the members of this Council have heard with profound sorrow the sad announcement of the death of His late Majesty King Edward VII., and desire to tender their humble duty, and to express their most heartfelt, loyal and respectful sympathy with Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, Their Majesties the King and Queen, and the Royal Family in their bereavement."

HON. MR. HEWETT―In seconding the resolution proposed by your Excellency, I feel assured that in what I am about to say I will be speaking, not only on behalf of my colleagues and those sections of the community which we individually represent, but also for all our fellow residents in this Colony, be their nationality what it may. For most of us, if not all, the personality of

34 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

His late Majesty has been one which we have known of, and looked up to all our lives. As children we heard of him not only as our future Sovereign, but as a capable and hardworking Prince, ever ready to devote himself unsparingly to the duties of his position and the interests of the nation over which in the fullness of time he expected to rule. The high hopes which were formed of him then were more than fulfilled when on the death of our late beloved Queen Victoria he ascended the Throne. No longer a young man, he worked un-wearyingly in the cause of his country and more especially in that of peace, and in strengthening relations which it was in the interest of all to maintain between the various Powers. This―his great work―speaks for itself and will continue to do so in the pages of history. It is often the fate of great men that their best endeavours are not appreciated until after―possibly long after―their work has been laid aside. This cannot be said of Edward the Peacemaker. His work was fully understood during his lifetime, and we thus, in our great sorrow at his loss, have this consolation that in our mourning we are joined by the whole of the civilized world, and have their sympathy. It is difficult to find words to fittingly describe the sympathy we feel, and which we would wish to express, in her deep sorrow to that gracious lady who for so many years has ruled over the hearts of all her husband's subjects. We have met here to-day to show how fully we realise the irreparable loss which has fallen, not only upon the Empire of Great Britain, but upon the whole world, by the sudden removal of our Sovereign. We take this opportunity of endeavouring as best we may, by the resolution now before us, to convey this expression of our respectful and loyal sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, to our new King, and to all the members of the Royal Family.

HON. DR. HO KAI―In the name of the Chinese community, I reverently support the resolution before the Council. The lamented death of our beloved Sovereign, King Edward the Seventh, has indeed cast a universal gloom over the whole British Empire, and the Chinese of this Colony join equally with the British community in mourning for the great and irreparable loss

the Empire has sustained. In our present sorrow, Sir, we do not forget the poignant grief of those who have not only in common with ourselves lost a wise and benign Sovereign, but also a well-beloved member and Head of the family. To Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, the King and Queen, and the Royal Family, therefore, our deepest sympathy is due. May they find some measure of comfort and alleviation of their intense sorrow and suffering in our heartfelt sympathy and united prayer.

HIS EXCELLENCY ― The resolution is unanimously adopted.

Condolences From Macao

HIS EXCELLENCY―I have received from the Governor of Macao the following telegram:―"The whole Colony shares with your Excellency and the Colony of Hongkong the profound sorrow which at this moment wounds the great English nation."

French Sorrow

HIS EXCELLENCY―I also received a letter from the Commander-in-Chief of the French Naval Division in the Far East, of which the following is a translation:―

SIR,―In the name of the whole French Naval Division of the Far East, I have the honour to address to you my deep condolence in the cruel sorrow which has struck the British Nation.

In my own name I would add that I personally feel this loss the more bitterly because His Majesty had on several occasions paid me the most courteous attentions.

I beg your Excellency to be good enough to accept the expression of my sorrowful sympathy and of my high consideration.

(Signed) CASTRIES.

Other Sympathy

HIS EXCELLENCY―I also received from several Consuls in the Colony letters of condolence on the sad event.

Council Adjourns

HIS EXCELLENCY―I had adjourned the Council till next Thursday, but I think it is more convenient to adjourn it till Thursday week.